Is Valorant free to play?

Yes. You can play the whole game for free. Cosmetics and the Battle Pass are optional purchases.

What is the best mode for a new player?

Unrated or Swiftplay. They teach you the rules without a rank on the line.

Which Agent should I pick first?

Choose an Agent with simple abilities and keep playing that Agent for a while. Learning one well helps more than rotating.

Can I play on console?

Yes, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Console players do not crossplay with PC.

Valorant Beginner Guide: Modes, Agents and First Steps

Valorant is a 5v5 tactical shooter from Riot Games. One team attacks and plants a bomb called the Spike. The other team defends. Every player chooses an Agent with special abilities, so aim is only half of the game.

Key takeaways

Valorant is free to play on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
A standard match is first to 13 rounds.
Start in Unrated or Swiftplay, not Competitive.
Learn one Agent first, and use the Range to practice.

How a round works

Each round, you buy weapons and abilities with credits. Attackers try to plant the Spike on a site and protect it until it explodes. Defenders try to stop the plant or defuse it. If you die, you wait for the next round. Winning rounds earns more credits, so teamwork and saving matter.

Which mode to play first

Mode	What it is
Unrated	Standard rules, no rank. Good for learning.
Swiftplay	A shorter match (best of 9, around 15 minutes).
Spike Rush / Deathmatch	Quick modes for warming up your aim.
Competitive	Ranked play from Iron to Radiant. You must reach level 20 first.
Premier	Team mode with divisions and map pick and ban.

Riot also adds limited-time modes. Patch 13.06 added a 2v2 mode called Gauntlet: Glitched.

Picking your first Agent

Agents are grouped by role, such as Duelists, Initiators, Controllers and Sentinels. Pick an Agent with simple abilities, then play it for many matches. Do not switch every game. Knowing your abilities well is worth more than knowing many Agents badly.